The Korean War was the first major armed clash between Free World and Communistforces, as the so-called Cold War turned hot. The half-century that now separates us fromthat conflict, however, has dimmed our collective memory. Many Korean War veteranshave considered themselves forgotten, their place in history sandwiched between thesheer size of World War II and the fierce controversies of the Vietnam War. The recently built Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall and the upcoming fiftiethanniversary commemorative events should now provide well-deserved recognition. Ihope that this series of brochures on the campaigns of the Korean War will have a similar effect.The Korean War still has much to teach us: about military preparedness, about globalstrategy, about combined operations in a military alliance facing blatant aggression, andabout the courage and perseverance of the individual soldier. The modern world still liveswith the consequences of a divided Korea and with a militarily strong, economicallyweak, and unpredictable North Korea. The Korean War was waged on land, on sea, andin the air over and near the Korean peninsula. It lasted three years, the first of which wasa seesaw struggle for control of the peninsula, followed by two years of positionalwarfare as a backdrop to extended cease-fire negotiations. The following essay is one of five accessible and readable studies designed to enhance understanding of the U.S.Army's role and achievements in the Korean conflict.

During the next several years the Army will be involved in many fiftieth anniversaryactivities, from public ceremonies and staff rides to professional development discussionsand formal classroom training. The commemoration will be supported by the publicationof various materials to help educate Americans about the war. These works will providegreat opportunities to learn about this important period in the Army's heritage of serviceto the nation.This brochure was prepared in the U.S. Army Center of Military History by John J.McGrath. I hope this absorbing account, with its list of further readings, will stimulatefurther study and reflection. A complete listing of the Center of Military History'savailable works on the Korean War is included in the Center's online catalog:www.army.mil/cmh-pg/catalog/brochure.htm.JOHN S. BROWNBrigadier General, USAChief of Military History2

Restoring the Balance25 January-8 July 1951

The period from late January to early July 1951 was critical for the United Nations (UN)Command in Korea. Recovering from the disastrous retreat that followed the

ChineseCommunist Forces

(

CCF

) military intervention in November 1950, UN forces enduredtwo massive

CCF

campaigns that threatened to push them off the peninsula. Amiddesperate fighting, the UN troops managed to hold on, regroup, and counterattack eachenemy initiative, finally establishing a strong defensive line across the middle of the peninsula. Their sacrifices finally stabilized the battlefield and provided the foundationfor the cease-fire and negotiations that followed.These bitter struggles also saw a major shift in U.S. policy and strategy. For American policymakers, the Korean War became an economy of force operation with limitedobjectives. The World War II concept of total victory and unconditional surrender wassupplanted by the more limited goal of restoring Republic of Korea (ROK or SouthKorea) to its general prewar boundaries and implementing an effective cease-fireagreement. As one of its unexpected consequences, this strategic shift also saw thedismissal of the UN commander, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, when heopenly criticized the new limitations. But with the nuclear monopoly enjoyed by theUnited States quickly fading, the threat of worldwide atomic war tempered the optionsavailable to U.S. officials. Campaign objectives were thus increasingly limited to gainingcontrol of key defensible terrain and using battlefield attrition to force the other side intonegotiations.

Strategic Setting

Approximately 600 miles long and between 125 and 200 miles wide, the Korean peninsula is mountainous and frequently cut by waterways of all sizes generally flowingdown from the mountains into the sea. In the central section of the peninsula, wheremuch of the fighting in early 1951 occurred, the terrain was particularly rugged. Thewestern portion was a minor coastal plain marked by estuaries formed from the Han,Imjin, and Pukhan Rivers. In the center, the Hwach'on Reservoir was the most prominentfeature. Except in the most rugged areas, villages and towns dotted the landscape. Theroad network was primitive and greatly affected by the weather.3